Author Topic: Anxiety (Read 4952 times)

jk314 · « **on:** December 01, 2011, 11:54:10 am »

Hello,

About 4 weeks ago I had a condom failure during vaginal intercourse with a girl with unkown status (club in western Germany) . She has assured me that she is healthy. However, I have been having symptoms as follows.

Sensation in the lymphnodes but really no noticable swelling. This gets worse during the eveining hours. I feel like I have a fever, but when checking it never goes over 99 F..

This event occured 4 weeks ago an the symptoms started within the first 7 days and have persisted for the following 3 weeks.

Would it be worth while to get a quick test for HIV at this time even though it is not conslusive untill 12 weeks out. The stress / anxiety is truley taking a toll on me.

Thanks

Andy Velez · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2011, 01:41:53 pm »

JK, nothing you are reporting symptomatically is in any way HIV specific. Your risk was relatively low in that you were protected until the condom failed, it was a single incident and HIV is harder to transmit from female to male than the other way around.

But it is wise to test even when the risk is low because HIV status is never something to be guessing about.

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after an exposure. So you can test initially at 6 weeks if you want to. Assuming you test negative, which is what I expect, then it is very likely you will continue to test negative for a conclusive result at 3 months.

If your symptoms persist you should discuss them with your doctor. I don't see the cause being HIV.

jk314 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2011, 04:29:56 pm »

Quick question,
If I test negative at 6 weeks, is this an indication that any symptoms I have had the last several weeks are not related to HIV?

I am aware that I still need a final test at 12weeks.....

Andy Velez · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2011, 05:46:31 pm »

The average time to seroconversion is 22 days. All but the smallest number of those who are going to seroconvert will do so within 4-6 weeks after a risk.

So a negative at 6 weeks is a strong indication you are likely to continue to test negative.

Ann · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2011, 08:14:33 am »

JK,

Yes, it is a very strong indication that the symptoms you have been experiencing have nothing to do with hiv. The symptoms that sometimes accompany seroconversion are not caused by the virus itself. They are caused by the process the body goes through while producing antibodies.

If your test at six weeks was negative (it's not clear if that's the case), then I fully expect you to also test negative when you confirm at the three month point.

Ann

jk314 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2011, 11:54:00 pm »

I tested today at 5.5 weeks since I am going to be in a remote part of the world for the rest of the year.
This test came back negative...

I will retest at 12 weeks... One thing interesting still is the local health department. (Large city western U.S.A)
was indicating that the 12 week test was still only 95% conclusive.

Andy and Ann thanks for your efforts on this forum...

Andy Velez · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2011, 08:55:22 am »

There are a few exceptions for when a 3 month negative result may not be conclusive. Those are when longterm intravenous drug use is involved or organ transplant or other immune depleting treatment for cancer or other disease.

Otherwise 3 months has long been accepted by the CDC as a reliable testing point.

jk314 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2011, 08:08:23 pm »

Sorry for one last post...

Should just basically chill out now. All logical evidence is that I am at a fairly minimal risk.

i.e. 1 time condom failure with girl of unknown status (she says that she is healthy)
symptoms that started 3.5 weeks ago.. (sensations in lymph nodes with no apparent swelling)
negative 4th gen rapid hiv test (blood from finger tip) at 5.5 weeks.....

I am going on a vacation for 2 weeks to try to lower my stress levels.
Both work related + HIV fear

Andy Velez · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2011, 09:09:35 am »

A negative test result at 5.5 weeks and with a low-level risk is very unlikely to be other than negative again at 3 months.

Enjoy your vacation. I expect you to come out of this ok.

jk314 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2011, 06:56:22 pm »

Hello,

Since I am still not able am not able to relax due to still having abnormal sensations in my lymph nodes should I get another intermediate test (8 weeks).

My brain just goes through the thoughts of plausible ailments that can be causing this persisting lymph node problem...

This get magnified by conflicting information that you can get surfing the internet.

Thanks...

Ann · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2011, 05:57:16 am »

JK,

You are highly unlikely to end up hiv positive following a condom break - or a 5.5 week negative. Instead of testing again before you can have a confirmation of your negative status at three months, I suggest you go to a doctor to find out what's going on with your lymph nodes. Thousands of things can cause swollen nodes, not just hiv.

Ann

Andy Velez · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2011, 08:37:16 am »

You can also do yourself a favor and stop surfing the net. All that you will find there is more fodder to feed your worst fears and all to no good purpose. Only your HIV test at 3 months will give you the answer you want. And we expect you to test negative.

Also, keep your hands off of your lymph nodes. They are very sensitive to the touch and by bothering them you can create more of a problem.

jk314 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2011, 09:29:59 pm »

Well, my anxiety's got the best of me so even though Ann correctly said to wait it out I tested today at a little over 8 weeks. This test came back negative.

I will now do my best taking Ann and Andy's advise. 1) get the final test in about 4-5 weeks and 2) Stop trying to play doctor via the internet. 3) Go see a real (non virtual) doctor to see what is really causing issues with me.

Thanks..

Andy Velez · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2011, 09:18:35 am »

That's good about the negative result. And it points the way to continuing to test negative.

There's nothing more we can say at this point. You just have to wait and collect what we expect to be another negative result in a few weeks.

jk314 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2012, 07:27:20 pm »

Hi, I thought I was clear but another event has occurred that is freaking me out..

85 days after unprotected vaginal intercourse everything was good. I decided on the complete STD testing. HIV,Chlamydia ,gun aria ,syphilis, Herpes... The results all came back negative.. From this i stated to get back to normal life.

Than, I got back with my ex. ~ 4 weeks after she came down with a persistent low grade fever 99-100 for about 1 week. Her lymph nodes also swelled up in her neck area to 1 to 2cm confirmed by a cat scan. Now she has a lump in her hard palette in here mouth. This will get a biopsy from an ENT soon.

Is this just a cruel coincidence ? Should I go take a chill pill in regards to possible HIV related items. I will still worry in regards to other items until the results of her further test.

Ann · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2012, 05:06:11 am »

jk,

You are conclusively hiv negative and you cannot give your partner something you do not have.

However, do you know whether she was also having sex while away from your relationship and if she was, was she insisting that condoms were used?

Until you two have tested together for everything, you should be using condoms. The same goes for any relationship you have with anyone.

Ann

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Author Topic: Anxiety (Read 4952 times)